Free Radio Santa Cruz for kids
The Radio That Came Back. A true story near Santa Cruz, CA, told for kids 6-8.
Read along
Can you pretend to turn a radio dial? Go ahead, twist it! Near here is a radio station with no official license, called Free Radio Santa Cruz. It plays news, music, and shows made by neighbors.
One day in 2004, officials came and took away almost all of its equipment. That included the microphones, the computers, and even the CDs! You might think that was the end. But the neighbors helped, and in just two days the station was back online.
Less than a month later, it was on the air again at one oh one point one. That's one bouncy-ball of a comeback. Now say it with me, one oh one point one!
Quiz the back seat
How fast did the station come back online after the raid?
Show the answer
Within two days. Two days! Its neighbors helped it get back online fast.
3 fun facts
- Free Radio Santa Cruz has been on the air since 1995.
- In 2004, its equipment was seized.
- It was streaming online again within 48 hours.
For grown-ups
Written with AI from public sources, then checked claim by claim against the sources below before it was published; stories that don't pass stay off the app and this site. Narration is pre-recorded, and nothing you do on this page is tied to your kids.
Sources
More stories in Santa Cruz
Roads
Town and county names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).